When she thought it was safe, Mama said, “When I say go, we’re going to run as fast as we can into the building. Up to my apartment. I’m right here, so don’t look back. Just run. Do you understand?” We said, “Yeah,” and “Yes,” and Mama said, “Come on!” but when I rose and jumped forward, only three of us—me, Precious, and Mama—ran. I looked back and saw Stacia on the ground holding her ankle and Tonya curled tight in a ball, like a snail. Me and Mama headed back for them, but Precious never stopped, running full speed for the building like Mama told her. She looked so free, running in that open field. And it should’ve been a normal sight, a child running through a playground, but in that moment, it was the most dangerous thing she could’ve done.

Tonya wasn’t moving and lay so completely still that she looked unconscious. I crouched down and leaned close to her, trying to see if she’d flinch or if there was any rise in her body. Mama scooped Stacia up off the ground. Stacia hollered and reached for her left ankle. When Mama called Tonya’s name, trying to get her to uncurl herself, there was no answer. She called her again. Nothing. When she gently turned her, there was a flinch at Mama’s touch.

“Tonya, baby, can you look at me?” Tonya shook her head no, still curled tight in a ball. I was relieved that she was still breathing. Mama put Stacia down, and said, “Fee, help her walk.” Then she went over and lifted Tonya up, and we walked as fast as we could toward the building. It was quiet then, like we were the only four people in the world.

Back home, we crouched down in the hallway, and Mama called out for Meechie, who, after a while, opened his bedroom door and answered her. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. He walked to the hallway and sat down. He looked concerned for Stacia, who was moaning from her injuries; she had sprained her ankle, and it had already begun to swell, looking puffier than her other skinny one. Me and Mama weren’t physically hurt, but when we heard banging on the door, the trauma of the night they took Meechie rose up in my throat, all sour and hot.

Mama arched forward, attempting to get up, and Meechie pushed her onto the floor. Her shoulder connected with the wall. We all looked at him like he was crazy. Mama, all confused, tried to get up again.

With his hand still holding her shoulder, he softened his look, and said, “Last time, they choked me until I couldn’t breathe.” Mama reached for him, hugging him, and he looked at me with these helpless eyes that I’d never seen.